Influence of Urban Form on Travel Behaviour in Four Neighbourhoods of Shanghai

Since the 1980s, much of the new urban development in China has departed significantly from the traditional pedestrian and bicycle-oriented urban form. This study examines the effects of the urban spatial transformation on travel, based on a travel survey of 1709 individuals from four selected neighbourhoods of Shanghai. Although pedestrian/cyclist-friendly urban form may not avert the general trend of motorisation growth induced by rising income, it does help to slow down the pace of growth and reduces the need for high levels of motor vehicle ownership. In the pedestrian/cyclist-friendly neighbourhoods, residents travel shorter distances than in other neighbourhoods even though the same modes of travel are used. Pedestrian/cyclist-friendly urban form makes the non-motorised modes feasible options, which is essential to limit automobile dependence. These findings suggest that land use planning and urban design can effectively influence people's mobility demand and travel behaviour towards achieving 'green transport' in urban China.